Vietnam's ambassador to the U.S. said his nation hopes to open a consul general's office in Houston soon.

"We have agreed in principle," said Ambassador Le Cong Phung during a break in Thursday's meeting between Vietnam's prime minister and Texas business leaders at the Westin Oaks hotel. "We have got one office in the East, the embassy, and one in the West in San Francisco. The United States is a huge country. We cannot cover it all."

Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and his delegation of more than 100 officials met with Texas cotton producers, energy company officials and other business leaders to discuss ways to expand trade between the two nations.

"I strongly believe that trade and investment between our two countries will be accelerated and strengthened for years to come," Dung said in Vietnamese. "The government of Vietnam is resolved to keep improving the business environment in order to attract more and more investors in Vietnam."

His visit comes amid protests from members of the local Vietnamese community who claim Dung's government has one of the world's worst records on human rights.

Surrounded by mounted police officers, hundreds of protesters, many of whom fled the nation after the Vietnam War, gathered in front of the Galleria Thursday to protest Dung's visit and the government's plans to open a consulate here.

"We don't want to have a consulate until there is democracy in Vietnam," said Al Hoang, who came to Houston in 1975.

He said Houston's Vietnamese community, which numbers nearly 85,000, will continue to protest against the consulate. Many local Vietnamese oppose doing business with the communist government.

"The Vietnamese government doesn't respect even basic human rights," said Kim Nguyen, who fled Vietnam in 1976.

Local business representatives said a consulate would facilitate business between the southeast Asian nation and Houston, which now has 88 consulates.

"With more trade and more tourism, it's good to have a local consulate to help expedite our visas for our people," said Roger Haldenby, vice president of operations for Lubbock-based Plains Cotton Growers.

Texas Cotton Producers signed an agreement Thursday with the Vietnamese textile industry to offer more cotton to the nation.

Other business representatives agreed a local consulate would facilitate trade with Vietnam.

"There's nothing in the world that replaces a handshake and eye contact," said Don Hartsell, managing director of Houston's World Air League. "It serves as an introductory means of opening up the entire country."

He is organizing the World Sky Race, a 150-day race of skyships — similar to blimps — whose route includes a stop in Vietnam. Hartsell met with Vietnamese officials to negotiate a celebration that would take place in Vietnam during a 2010 race around the globe.

In addition to talking trade and investment, Dung and Phung also received white cowboy hats Thursday.

"You can't leave Texas without having a genuine Texas hat," said Joe Knierien, president of International Trade Expo, the organizer of the Discover Vietnam U.S. & Vietnam Business Forum.